In the News

LOS ANGELES—All over America, and in cities abroad, people revolted by the images of small children locked up in cages by the Donald Trump administration gathered Friday, July 12, to lift high their “Lights for Liberty.” Perhaps never before in our nation’s history has the Lady of the Lamp in New York’s harbor needed so much extra wattage to help her shine democracy’s light over the world.

The Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review authored AB 101, which provides for statutory changes needed to enact the housing and homelessness-related provisions of the Budget Act of 2019.

In short, the Legislature is making legislative changes to the legislatively-created housing and homeless problem in California, according to Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber). Nielsen said, “some of those have been foisted on that community by this Legislature.”

California provides money and other assistance to victims of violent crime, but the aid is available only to those who know to ask for it. Nearly 100 applications are denied each year because they’re filed late, perhaps because it took too long for victims to learn of the program, or perhaps because they were too busy dealing with the trauma or other consequences of the crime.

In Northeast Los Angeles, where rising rents and rising homelessness go hand in hand, a pair of bills passed recently in Sacramento attempt to tackle both. Assembly Bill (AB) 1482 would establish statewide rent control. AB 1197 would make it easier for developers to build housing for the homeless in Los Angeles.

When my son Junior was killed driving home from a funeral in October 2015, I felt I’d lost everything. At age 18, a senseless act of violence robbed my son of his bright future. I honestly didn’t see a reason to keep living.

But I kept going. I leaned on my husband, Juan Carlos, along with my brother and sister who helped me through that unimaginably difficult time. They reached out to local and state victims’ services programs to access support we desperately needed to survive.

SACRAMENTO – Building on the state’s historic investment in two years of free community college and substantial state budget investments that allowed the University of California and the California State University to freeze tuition, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills into law last week focused on affordability, transparency and integrity in higher education. The bills expand access to financial aid for students, strengthen integrity in college admissions and enhance oversight of for-profit colleges in California.

SACRAMENTO — Undocumented immigrants and other non-citizens will be allowed to serve on state boards and commissions after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills Saturday intended to integrate immigrants further into society.

SB225 by Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, expands eligibility for state appointments to any California resident over the age of 18.